Operating mechanism for car-vestibule trapdoors



June 7, 1927. 1,631,306

A. A CONSTANTINE OPERATING MECHANISM FOR CAR VESTIBULE TRAP DOORS Filed July2lfl925 2 SheeW-Sheet l June 7,1927. 1,631,306

A. A. CONSTANTINE OPERATING MEQHANISM FOR CAR VESTIBULE TRAP DOORS Filed Julyzl. 1925 2 sheets-sneet 2 5e fl C 0225260231726 Patented June 7, 1927.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ALPI-IONSE A. CONSTANTINE, OF JEFFERSONVILLE, INDIANA, ASSIGNOR TO AMERI- CAN CAR AND FOUNDRY COMPANY, OF.NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

OPERATING MECHANISM FOR GAR-VESTIBULE TRAPDOORS.

Application filed July 21, 1925. Serial No. 45,092.

In the drawings:. Y 7 Fig. 1 is a partial vertical section of a car vestibule showing a trap door equipped with an operating mechanism constructed in accordance with this invention, the door operating means being shown in elevation and the door in closed position;

Fig. 2 is a view in elevation, drawn to a larger scale, of the door operating mechanism in Fig. 1, the door being shown in raised position and parts being broken away to show other parts more clearly;

Fig. 3 is a bottom plan view of thedoor operating mechanism shown in Fig. 1, the door being shown-in closed position, and

Figs. 1, 5 and 6 are views similar to Figs. 1, 2 and 3, respectively, showing a door operating mechanism of modified construction.

This invention relates to operating means for the trap doors of car vestibules and has for an object to provide an improved mechanism of the class described which shall be rugged in construction and reliable in operation and which shall consist of few simple parts which may be readily assembled. It is also an object of this invention to provide a mechanism of the class described in which the door operating lever is mounted on the hinge bracket and the door operating spring so confined between the hinge bracket and the door operating lever that the individual mechanisms form convenient units for shipmentand handling and may be applied as a unit. It is also an object of this invention to provide mechanism of the class described in which the door operating lever and spring are shielded by the hinge bracket.

With these and other objects in view a door operating mechanism constructed in accordance with this invention comprises hinge brackets 1 at opposite ends of one edge of the vestibule trap door. 'Each hinge bracket is formed as a casting having spaced parallel flanged sidemembers 2 joined at their tops by a crosspiece 3 which projects beyond the side members 2. Eachof the side members is provided at the top and bottom with attaching flanges 42 by which the brackets are secured to thecar' end wallsv 5 by suitable attaching means as bolts 6, the top attaching flanges being connected to the projecting portions of the cross piece 8. The hinge brackets are placed beneath the vestibule floor 7, fitting into the angle between the vestibule floor 7 and the end wall 5. While the hinge bracket has been shown as a casting, it is to be understood that it may be formed in any desired manner.

Each of the side members 2 is provided with an upwardly projecting door support ing arm 8, the door supporting arms being parallel and provided at their upper ends with openings in which are fitted pins 10. Pivotally mounted on the pins 10 between the arms 8 of the hinge brackets 1 are the hinge straps 12 which are secured to the door 14 and secure the door 14. to the hinge brackets 1. As is usual with vestibule trap doors, the door is secured in its lowered position by a suitable locking and starting 'mechanism 16 such as is shown in my 00- pending application, Serial No. 45090 filed July 21, 1925 and is held in its raised position by a suitable door holding means 18 such'as is shown in my co-pending application, Serial No. 45091 filed July 21, 1925.

At the bottoms of the door supporting arms the hinge bracket sides 2 are provided with openings to receive a pin 20 upon which the door operating lever 22 is pivotally mounted between the sides 2 of the hinge bracket. At its outer end the door operating lever 22 is provided with a roller 24 which contacts with the hinge strap 12. At its inner end the door operating lever 22 is provided with a threaded opening in which is mounted a threaded pin 26 carrying a cap 28, the pin providing a means by which the position of the cap 28 with respect to the lever 22 may be adjusted. Engaging the adjustable cap 28 and a boss 30 formed integral with the cross piece 3 and positioned between the sides 2 of the hinge bracket is a door operating spring 32, the tension of which may be varied by adjusting the position of the cap 28. In this construction it will be noted that the spring 32 and the inner portion of the lever 22 are positioned be tween the sides 2 of the hinge bracket so that the lever and spring are shielded by the sides of the hinge bracket. It will also be fit projects.

In the modified construction shown in Figs. 4, and 6 the hinge bracket comprises spaced parallel flanged sides I2 secure-ii together at their top by the cross piece 4st and having flanges 46 by means of jecting arms having openlngs at'their upper ends iirwhich is mounted a pin'52 upon which ahinge' strap 12 secured to the door 14 is pivotally mounted between the arms 50 as in the other COIlStIUCtIOlT. At the bottoms of the door'supporting arms 50 the sidesdQ are providedwith' openings to re'- ce'ivethe pin 5441 5011 which the dooroperating lever .56 s p votally mounted between the sides 42 of the hinge bracket. The lever 56 is provided at its outerendavith a roller 58 whiclr engages with the hinge strap i 12 and has its inner end pivotally connected to a I rod 60 which projects through an opening 62 in the bottom wall 6% connecting the sides 42 ofthe hinge bracket; Projecting from the bottom wall 64L is the U-shape extension- 66 having attaching flanges '68 and secured by screws '70 to the end wallotthe car, the 3 shape projection forming Withthe end" wall ofthe car a tube into which the rod 60.. Mounted upon therod 60:" and" bearing against thebottom wall 64c is a-'' spring 72 held in compression 'byfthe washer 74L adjustably secured on the rod GO-by a -nut may be assembled complete for shipment or forimounting on the car.

,Vhen placed in position on the (331317116 pin 26 or nut 76 is adjusted to placethe' springl32 or 72, respectively, under compression when the door is in' its raised "or openposition;

V Moving the door to the lowered or closed position will increase the-compression of the spring so that'\vlientlie" loor is" released the spring will raise the door to a position in whichit may be readily grasped for movement to the raised'or openposition.

llhat is claimed is:

1. Inatrap door operating mechanism, a

hinge'bracket for the door, a door operating leverpivotally attached intermediate its ends to saidhinge bracket and resilient means engaging said bracket'a'n'd lever to normally urge the'latter against thc door to swing the door' to open position.

2. Ina trap doorroperatingmechanism, a hinge bracket for the door, a dooro'perating lever pivotally mounted on said hinge brack- In'thisconstruction as in the other it will be noted that the hinge bracket shields theinnerportion oi the door operating-lever 56 and the spring 72 and that the device et," operatingmeans for said lever engaging said bracket and means for limiting the movement of said lever by said operating means when said 'bi'acket'is detached.

3. In a'tr-apdooroperatingmechanism, a

hinge bracket for the door havin' door supporting arms, a door operating lever pivotally mounted on said hinge bracket between said doonsupporting arms, operating means for said lever engaging said bracket and means for hinging a doorrin said door supporting arms, said hinging meansserving to limit'the movement o't' said lever-by said operating'means'when said bracketis detached. I

4; In'atra 'd'ooroperatingmechanism, a hinge bracketfonthe door, a-door operating lever pivotally supported intermediate its ends on' sai-d hinge bracket and a spring interposed between the bracket and one end of the lever to normally urge the lever against thedoor to elevate the same.

5.'in' a trap door operating mechanism, a hinge bracket for the doorhavingdoor supporting-arms, a door operating lever'pivotally mounted between saidarms, and a lever opera-ting spring bearing against said *hinge bracket.

6.In'a'=trap door operating-mechanism, a hinge bracket forthe door, a door operating lever' pi-votallyi mounted on said' hinge bracket, a lever operating-spring bearingagainst said hinge bracket and means for positioning said spring'with respect to said hinge bracket. 7 v

7. In a trap door operating mechanism, a hinge bracket itorthe 'doorhaving door supportingarms, a door operating-lever'-piv0t ally-mountedbetween-said arms, a lever op erating spring bearing against said hingebracket and" means for positioning said springwith respect to said hinge bracket.

8. In a door'operat-ing mechanism, a hinge bracket having door supporting arms, a door operating'lever pivotallyv mounted between said'arms and alever operating spring bearing againstsaid hinge bracket, saidzhinge bracket shielding said spring.

9: In a 'dooroperating mechanism, a hinge bracket, a door operating lever carried by said hinge bracket and a lever operating spring-bearing against said hinge bracket, said'hinge' bracket shielding said sprin 10. In a door operating mechanism, a hingebracket, a door'operating lever pivotally mounted on' said hinge bracket, a lever operating spring bearing against said hinge bracketa'nd means positioning said spring wit'h'respe'ct to said hinge gbracket, said hinge bracket shielding said spring.

1.1. In" a door operating mechanism, a hinge bracket having door supporting arms, a door operating lever pivotally. supported between said-:arms, a lever operating spring bearing against said hinge bracket and means positioning said spring With respect hinging the door to said, bracket mounted in to said hinge bracket, said hinge bracket said bracket and limiting the movement'of 10 shielding said spring. said lever by said operating means when said 12. A trap door operating mechanism bracket is detached.

comprising a hinge bracket for the door, a In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my door operating lever pivotally mounted on handsaid hinge bracket, operatlng means for said lever engaging said bracket and a pin for ALPHONSE A. CONSTANTINE. 

